Li Junyao was shut outside the door by Gu Qianran, so angry that his nose almost went crooked. Gu Qianran happily watched the male lead's face shift from black to red to green, and finally he stormed off in a fury.
Before long, Li Junze sent her a message: "Boss Gu, what did you do to Li Junyao? He looks absolutely vicious."
"A vicious face? Oh, that's fine then."
Li Junze: ??? Aren't you worried about him taking revenge?
Gu Qianran explained seriously: "Think about it. People like that usually go back and start scheming something. Like Wangzai… no, Li Ziming, she had that same face when she left. If they really come after me, and I resolve the crisis and come out ahead, what does that prove?"
"That you'll gradually take over the company, and then we'll team up to bring down the Li family?"
Gu Qianran: "No no no. That means I've taken over the male lead's script! Normally, isn't this kind of thing supposed to be handed to the male lead by some supporting character?"
Li Junze went silent. What kind of bizarre logic was this?
Gu Qianran carried on with her analysis: "I suspect the reason the male lead is so useless yet always ranked number one in posturing is all thanks to the 'male lead halo.' But if I take over the halo, how is he supposed to keep bouncing back? Walk the path of the male lead, leave the male lead with no path to walk."
Li Junze could only admit defeat. Honestly, a woman who had tried to extort him for fifteen hundred yuan the moment they met—who could compete with that kind of brain? He was scared, but also intrigued by this stunt of hijacking someone else's plot armor. "Then why not hijack the female lead's role instead?"
"Steal what? This is a society ruled by law. We're competing fairly here. Besides, the female lead is my bestie. She's such a cute little bean, could you really bear to hurt her?"
The moment Gu Qianran started talking about Bai Ziyuan, she was unstoppable. Such a cute little friend had to be shared with the world! (Except for Li Junyao, of course.)
Meeting a fellow townsman, naturally she had to spread good things around.
Li Junze sighed. This was too much. From her words, he still couldn't figure out Gu Qianran's orientation. How could she talk about her feelings for Bai Ziyuan in such righteous tones, like she was running a pyramid scheme?
Finally, he forwarded the chat screenshots to another window: "Sis, I swear I tried my best. Talking to Boss Gu is like singing, dancing, rap, and basketball on the edge of death. I really can't anymore…"
The reply came back instantly: "Look at you, useless! Forget about copying my math homework this week!"
Bai Zilu shook her head at her little sister in disappointment. She had met Li Junze in an extracurricular Olympiad math class. Those assignments were infamous for being brain-breaking, even for her. For Li Junze, who was a year and a half younger, it was torture.
After hearing about Gu Qianran's legendary exploits, Bai Zilu guessed the connection between Li Junze and Gu Qianran, which was how their shady little deal began.
Meanwhile, Bai Ziyuan was curled up miserably on the couch. Without Qianran's arms, she could only hug the cold sofa and weep. Sob sob sob. She stared at her phone and let out a long sigh. "Sigh… why isn't school starting already?"
Bai Zilu, who still hadn't finished her summer homework, wanted to smack her. Did she think everyone was like her, with no assignments? Some of them had to suffer through exams!
It was fine though. School was starting next week. With more time together, her chances would come. She cheered herself on. "Just like Qianran said, jiayou, all in!"
Bai Zilu sat at the other end of the couch. By now she was used to new catchphrases constantly popping out of Bai Ziyuan's mouth. Wasn't it just another way of sprinkling dog food? Heh.
Bai Zilu: I don't even know what I did, but now I'm surrounded by lemons~
See, see? Qianran must have messaged her again, the way she's smiling like that. These past few days, ninety-eight percent of Bai Ziyuan's messages had been with Gu Qianran.
Why did she have to run her mouth that day and help? Help my ass! Now she just wanted to find her own partner to go toe-to-toe with her little sister.
Meanwhile, in the Ji household downtown, a stern-faced man glared at Ji Tang, his voice tight with anger. "Ji Tang, did you secretly change your school choice? You didn't apply to South High?"
Ji Tang looked back at him expressionlessly. After seeing the countless sides of Gu Qianran, she now felt that Gu Qianran's outbursts were what true power looked like—silent and commanding. Her father's level was far too low. At most, he could scare her little brother. With her, it was useless.
Encouraging words from Gu Qianran still echoed in her mind. Ji Tang replied playfully, completely shattering her father's carefully constructed atmosphere of authority. "I did apply! South High, right? Isn't Nankou No. 12 High just South High?"
Ji Xiong's face flushed crimson with rage. "Good, very good. You've grown up, huh? Learned to play dumb with me now?"
Ji Tang's gaze slid past him, toward the mother and son hiding in the shadows. Sometimes, blood ties were the most dangerous ties. A person might save you for blood, or sacrifice you for the same reason.
"Heh. Do you think that's playing dumb? That's called being honest." Ji Tang sneered coldly. Years of pretending had worn her down. Her heart had long gone cold, and she no longer hoped for her family's affection. "In my eyes, working tirelessly day and night just to serve as someone else's stepping stone—that's the real stupidity."
Her voice grew sharper, more cutting. "If you want Ji Zhu to run the company, then dump the mess on him. Stop pretending to be some almighty patriarch! Boss Gu was right, your company going down is nothing but deserved. The leftover rot of feudalism still wanting to bask in socialist benefits? Pathetic."
With that, she turned on her heel and walked toward the door, stepping out into the bright light of socialism, leaving the rest of her family dumbstruck in the shadows.
She exhaled a long breath. When was the last time she had vented so freely? She couldn't even remember. But this time she dared because she had backing.
She had money now. Once school started, she would live in the dorms, out of sight and out of mind. Her whole life, she had been taught to sacrifice everything for her younger brother. Nobody ever asked her to imagine a future for herself.
When the company did well, congratulations poured in for her brother, the "future CEO." No one noticed the dark circles under her eyes. She had struggled endlessly, all for a place in her father's company, for a single glance of recognition. And what did she get?
Her father merely built her a smaller cage, with precision instruments for her to push forward, all so her dear little brother's career could thrive.
Ji Tang was no bootlicker. Nor would she be shackled by feudal traditions that valued sons over daughters. If her family didn't want her, then so be it. Starting as a commoner, she could still carve out her own sky.
There were people beside her who suffered even more. She trusted Gu Qianran. She trusted Bai Ziyuan. And she trusted herself.
Six days later, the day before school started, the "Trust Quartet" found themselves staring at each other in their new dorm room. Gu Qianran's reason for boarding was the same as Ji Tang's. Bai Ziyuan followed Gu Qianran. Bai Zilu chose boarding because her special program meant late-night classes, and also so she could keep an eye on Bai Ziyuan.
The dorm manager saw three classmates plus one sister, figured they'd all be familiar soon enough, and placed them together.
Even though they already knew each other, the atmosphere fell into an awkward silence. Eventually, Bai Zilu, being her silly self, broke the ice. After they all introduced themselves again, the air warmed up.
They quickly divided chores: Bai Zilu as dorm leader handling cleaning, Gu Qianran went home to move her things, Bai Ziyuan fetched supplies for the group.
Ji Tang avoided bringing up her family. She was exhausted and only wanted to sleep off the black circles that years of company work had carved under her eyes. Finally, she'd never have to again.
Bai Zilu noticed the shadows under Ji Tang's eyes and deliberately left her out of the chores. Ji Tang clearly understood and, tired as she was, whispered a thank you before sinking into deep sleep.
Bai Zilu studied the girl across from her. Her delicate face was pale, eyes darkened with sleepless nights. Her brows were fine like willow leaves, but faintly furrowed, as if she was dreaming something unpleasant.
Bai Zilu's heart ached. It seemed this dorm didn't just house Gu Qianran. Even Ji Tang carried burdens heavier than they could imagine. To wear such an expression even in sleep, life must have been cruel.
Ji Tang slept until afternoon. Bai Ziyuan came back with supplies and pulled Gu Qianran out again. Ji Tang rubbed her eyes. Ah, what a good nap. Her first sleep after escaping feudal chains—utterly satisfying.
Bai Zilu, reading on the side, handed her a glass of water. "You're awake? Have some water. I noticed you haven't had any all day."
Ji Tang was surprised at Bai Zilu's attentiveness. She had thought Bai Zilu was just a silly clown.
"Thanks." Ji Tang accepted without hesitation and drank a few sips. Out of habit, she pulled out her phone and started counting her money.
Bai Zilu leaned closer out of curiosity, but what she saw was incomprehensible. "What the heck, what kind of bird language is this? What are you even looking at?"
Ji Tang: …So grounded. Not even a hint of senior's arrogance… And anyway, wasn't this all in Chinese?
"This is an investment panel. It makes money. Boss Gu helped me earn a lot."
"Wow, sounds so amazing. You're incredible." Bai Zilu praised without fully understanding.
Looking at Bai Zilu, Ji Tang suddenly felt envy. Bai Zilu admired her financial knowledge at such a young age, but Ji Tang envied Bai Zilu's lively, harmonious family life.
She began hesitantly: "Bai… senior…"
Bai Zilu exaggeratedly shivered. "Don't, don't. Big Boss Ji, please don't call me senior. I can't handle it. Just call me by my name. I'm only a few years older, nothing to lord over you with."
If Bai Zilu hadn't sounded so sincere, Ji Tang would've thought she was mocking her.
"Bai Zilu… You must be really close with Xiao Bai, right?" Ji Tang's voice held a trace of envy, her eyes tired.
"Of course. She calls me an idiot every day and threatens to bash my head in, but look at me—alive and well. The fact that she holds back proves how good she is."
"Pfft." Ji Tang couldn't help laughing. What kind of treasure sister was this? Too funny.
Seeing Ji Tang lighten up, Bai Zilu smiled in satisfaction and smoothly changed the subject. She wasn't stupid, just silly. She could hear the envy in Ji Tang's tone. The root of Ji Tang's pain was clearly her family. Since Ji Tang didn't want to dwell on it, Bai Zilu wouldn't press. Why rub salt in someone's wounds?
Meanwhile, things weren't so harmonious for Bai Ziyuan. Her mind was blank. She was out shopping with Qianran!
Normally, Gu Qianran had no interest in shopping. But when faced with those watery eyes, all her principles crumbled.
She held Bai Ziyuan's hand like a close friend, carrying piles of bags Bai Ziyuan had bought. Bai Ziyuan sipped her huge cup of milk tea absentmindedly.
After a while, she couldn't help sending a message to Bai Zilu: "Ahhhhh silly sis! Qianran is shopping with me and even carrying my stuff! She's so cool!"
The reply came instantly: "You're about to live together. What's shopping compared to that?"
Li… living together? Oh right. Sharing a dorm basically was living together! As Bai Ziyuan thought about it, her face flushed bright red.
Gu Qianran stared at her, baffled. What now? Why was her face so red? Heatstroke? From drinking iced milk tea???
This wave, this wave was utterly absurd.